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Hong Kong women in grip of weight-loss craze

Last Updated 07 December 2009, 16:26 IST

 
Dieters in the wealthy city are being talked into placing large deposits for programmes which they are told will recoup after they have slimmed to a target weight, the ‘Hong Kong Standard’ reported.

One woman was talked into paying out $10,322 while another who earns only $1,290 a month was made to pay a “deposit” of over $5,800 until she lost 13.6 kg.

However, even when women slim to their target weights, the companies often refuse to return the deposits, saying they have breached conditions by missing diet classes.

Others claimed to have been threatened and even attacked by staff when they tried to back out of contracts, according to a group of women lodging official complaints against the practices.  More than 30 women supported by a legislator have now lodged claims against the weight-loss companies with the Hong Kong Consumer Council, the newspaper said.

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(Published 07 December 2009, 16:26 IST)

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